Jumaldi Alfi

Jumaldi Alfi

Footnote #4 (Blackboard painting), 2012, acrylic and oil bar on canvas

Renewal/Verjungung Series 2-B, 2009, acrylic on canvas

Jumaldi Alfi surprisingly removes his art from socio-political themes in favor of formal elements. He identifies as an Indonesian artist. His background as a poet is evident in his work (through use of text and subject matter). His work is about naivity and minimalism.

Formally, he uses color, line, texture, and meaningless doodles in his compositions. Text is present in nearly all the ones I've seen and sometimes is even the sole subject. Skulls are a very common theme in his work bringing to mind death and decay.

chalkboard paintings reminiscent of Cy Twombly.

Nigel Cooke

Nigel Cooke

Nature Loves You, 2011-2012

1989, 2009, oil on linen

Nigel Cooke's large-scale paintings depict fantastical hyper-realistic scenes. His influences include Van Gogh, Gerhard Richter, graffiti, Dutch masters, graphic novels, and Byzantine art.

Themes of his work include the sublime, space, decay, death, self-destruction, and landscapes.

He does figurative paintings that evoke anxiety with large open backgrounds. He tries to use colors emotively to communicate ambivalence, doubt, and conflict.

article in which he describes his first painting experience ;)

Dana Schutz

Dana Schutz

Death Comes To Us All, 2003, oil on canvas

Twister Mat, 2003, oil on canvas

Dana Schutz's work has been described as teetering on the edge of tradition and innovation.

Still lifes become personified, portraits become events, and landscapes become constructions. She embraces the area in which the subject is composed and decomposing, formed and formless, inanimate and alive. She works with themes of death and discomfort.

She paints in thick impasto with heavy line work, deep colors, and dark shadows.

After looking at a variety of her work, I think she addresses reality in a very illogical, surrealist way.

Damien Hirst

Damien Hirst

Requiem, White Roses, and Butterflies, 2008

spin painting, 1995

Damien Hirst is internationally renowned for his sculptural works but also creates well-known paintings! He shows immense influence of Francis Bacon. His first painting show received one of the worst critical responses ever. It was called "shockingly bad" and "first year art student".

He does spot paintings, which are just colored spots on walls, boards, and canvas. Also spin paintings, which are just SPIN ART that you can buy at Michaels. These can both be categorized as non-representational.

In his other works, he uses dark colors and deep shadows, referencing the popular themes of death and theatricality.